Adjustable secondary contact assemblies for circuit breakers

Abstract

An adjustable circuit breaker portion of a multiple contact secondary contact assembly for mating with spaced, non-adjustable contact terminals of a circuit breaker enclosure, which includes a mounting rail and at least two contact modules. The contact modules a disposed on the mounting rail so that the contact modules align with the contact terminals.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An adjustable circuit breaker portion of a multiple contact secondary contact assembly for mating with spaced, non-adjustable contact terminals of a circuit breaker enclosure, said secondary contact assembly comprising: 
       a mounting rail;  
       at least two contact modules;  
       said contact modules disposed on said mounting rail;  
       wherein said contact modules include at least two contact units and an intermediate spacer for maintaining said contact units in a spaced relation on said mounting rail.  
     
     
       2. The secondary contact assembly of  claim 1 , wherein: 
       said mounting rail includes a male dove tail connector;  
       said at least two contact units and said at least one spacer include female dove tail connectors.  
     
     
       3. The secondary contact assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said at least two contact units and said at least one spacer are ultrasonically welded to said mounting rail. 
     
     
       4. The secondary contact assembly of  claim 3 , wherein said contact units have centerlines spaced 0.75 inch apart. 
     
     
       5. The secondary contact assembly of  claim 3 , wherein said contact units have centerlines spaced 1.25 inches apart. 
     
     
       6. The secondary contact assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said at least two contact units and said at least one spacer are made of a dielectric material. 
     
     
       7. The secondary contact assembly of  claim 1 , wherein: 
       each said contact unit includes two opposing sidewalls held in spaced relation by a first and second end wall forming a cavity, and a conductor assembly;  
       said conductor assembly disposed in said contact unit cavity and having a contact member and a biasing means; and  
       said biasing means biasing a portion of said contact member out of said contact unit cavity.  
     
     
       8. The secondary contact assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said contact member aligns with said contact terminals. 
     
     
       9. The secondary contact assembly of  claim 1 , wherein: 
       each said contact units has a width of 0.625 inches; and  
       said spacer has a width of 0.125 inches.  
     
     
       10. A circuit breaker installation comprising: 
       an enclosure having at least one main contact stab and an enclosure portion of a secondary contact assembly;  
       a circuit breaker comprising:  
       a housing;  
       a set of main contacts disposed within said housing;  
       at least one main contact quick disconnect;  
       said main contact quick disconnect structured to engage said main contact stab;  
       a circuit breaker portion of a secondary contact assembly comprising:  
       a mounting rail;  
       at least two contact modules;  
       said contact modules disposed on said mounting rail; and  
       wherein said contact modules include at least two contact units; and an intermediate spacer for maintaining said contact units in spaced relation on said mounting rail.  
     
     
       11. The secondary contact assembly of  claim 10 , wherein: 
       said mounting rail includes a male dove tail connector;  
       said at least two contact units and said at least one spacer include female dove tail connectors.  
     
     
       12. The secondary contact assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said at least two contact units and said at least one spacer are ultrasonically welded to said mounting rail. 
     
     
       13. The secondary contact assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said contact units have centerlines spaced 0.75 inch apart. 
     
     
       14. The secondary contact assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said contact units have centerlines spaced 1.25 inches apart. 
     
     
       15. The secondary contact assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said at least two contact units and said at least one spacer are made of a dielectric material. 
     
     
       16. The secondary contact assembly of  claim 10 , wherein: 
       each said contact unit includes two opposing sidewalls held in spaced relation by a first and second end wall forming a cavity, and a conductor assembly;  
       said conductor assembly disposed in said contact unit cavity and having a contact member and a biasing means; and  
       said biasing means biasing a portion of said contact member out of said contact unit cavity.  
     
     
       17. The secondary contact assembly of  claim 16 , wherein said contact member aligns with said contact terminals. 
     
     
       18. The secondary contact assembly of  claim 10 , wherein: 
       each said contact units has a width of 0.625 inches; and  
       said spacer has a width of 0.125 inches.  
     
     
       19. An adjustable circuit breaker portion of a multiple contact secondary contact assembly for mating with spaced, non-adjustable contact terminals of a circuit breaker enclosure, said secondary contact assembly comprising: 
       a mounting rail;  
       a contact module;  
       said contact module disposed on said mounting rail;  
       wherein said contact module includes at least two contact units; and an intermediate relation on said mounting rail.  
     
     
       20. A circuit breaker installation comprising: 
       an enclosure having at least one main contact stab and an enclosure portion of a secondary contact assembly;  
       a circuit breaker comprising:  
       a housing;  
       a set of main contacts disposed within said housing;  
       at least one main contact quick disconnect;  
       said main contact quick disconnect structured to engage said main contact stab;  
       a circuit breaker portion of a secondary contact assembly comprising:  
       a mounting rail;  
       a contact module;  
       said contact module disposed on said mounting rail; and wherein said contact module includes at least two contact units; and an intermediate space for maintaining said contact units in spaced relation on said mounting rail.